Beginner Skiing Tips - How To Ski & What to

Bring

So you’re going skiing for the first time. Maybe you’ve looked forward to this for years, maybe you
just booked a ski vacation at the last minute - either way, prepare for the ride of your life! It’s hard
to beat the thrill of a great day on the slopes, but the learning curve for beginner skiers can be steep.
Unlike some sports, at first, skiing can be very counterintuitive. So we’ve put together this
comprehensive introduction to skiing as a beginner, from how you prepare the night before, what to
bring skiing, all the way to your first turns on the bunny hill. Read along for tips for your first day
skiing.

 How to Prepare
 What to Bring - How to Dress
 When You Arrive
 Should You Take a Lesson?
 Chairlifts
 How to Ski - Basic Technique

How to Prepare For a Day Skiing

Sure, you can just jump in cold turkey and drive to a ski hill, and figure it out when you get there,
but it’s best to plan ahead and have some things set up beforehand to save you time and money. So
here are a few things beginner skiing tips that you can use to set yourself up for success.

Buy Your Lift Ticket Online

More and more ski resorts are offering online ticket sales, often at a slight discount. Buying your
ticket online ahead of time can save you a lot of time and hassle. No one wants to wait in a long line
in the cold first thing in the morning. So shop online and beat the rush.

Shop for Beginner Ski Packages

Ski resorts love first-time skiers, they exist to help more people fall in love with the sport after all.
So many hills offer discounted packages that include a lift ticket, gear rental, and a lesson. These ski
packages are always your best option when first trying the sport. They’re designed to help you
become a competent skier with as little hassle as possible, for the lowest price possible - take
advantage of them.
 Stretch & Hydrate
This one might seem obvious, but skiing uses muscles that don’t get much action in everyday life.
After your first day of skiing you’ll be sore in places you didn’t even know you had. Make sure to
stretch well before heading to the slopes. Making sure you’re well hydrated is important as well, ski
areas are at high altitudes, and you’ll be working hard out there. Your body will thank you for it,
and you’ll reduce the risk of injury.

What to Wear Skiing

For many first time skiers, their outfit ends up being the weak link that makes their day miserable.
Be prepared, and you won’t end up with cold fingers and toes that force you to go home early.
We’ve put together a complete guide to how to dress for skiing here, but here’s a breakdown of the
basics.

 Bring more clothes than you think you need. You don’t lose anything by stockpiling a
few warm layers, and extra gloves in your car, and you could end up being really grateful
you did.
 Don’t Wear Cotton Skiing. There’s an old adage in the outdoor world “cotton kills.”
That’s because when cotton clothes get wet, either from snow, or sweat, they take forever to
dry out, and they lose all of their insulation. So you end up cold and wet immediately. Don’t
wear anything cotton. Instead wear wool or synthetic socks, underwear, and insulating
layers.
 Dress for the Chairlift. Often skiers dress like they would to go sledding or ice skating.
That’s a bad idea. For those sports you’re moving most of the time and stay naturally
warmer. As a skier, you’ll spend a lot of time on the chairlift. That means you’ll be sitting
out in the cold, off the ground, potentially with a cool breeze blowing. Wear warm enough
clothes that you’d be comfortable sitting still outside, because you will be.

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What to Bring Skiing

Skiing is a sport unlike any other, and as such, it can be hard to make sure you’ve packed
everything you need. Do a quick mental check before you leave your driveway and make sure you
have everything. So here’s a quick checklist for the car.

 Ski clothes & extra layers

 Skis (if you’re not renting at the mountain)
 Ski Boots (if you’re not renting at the mountain)
 Ski Poles (if you’re not renting at the mountain)
 Wallet
 Lift ticket confirmation (if you purchased online)
 Snacks
 Water
 Dry change of clothes for the drive home

When You Arrive at the Mountain

In the Parking Lot
It depends ski area to ski area how close to the lifts you can park. However, it’s always a good idea
to plan on being self-sufficient once you leave your car. That way, if it’s a long way from the lodge
to the parking lot you don’t have to make multiple trips and waste your day. So make sure you’re
good to go at the car. Make sure you’ve got your wallet and lift ticket in secure, zippered pockets.
Make sure you’ve got your snacks and a small water bottle. Because it’s cold, people often forget to
drink enough water, and end up really dehydrated. Make sure you’re fully ready to go before you
leave the car. And make sure not to lock your keys inside it.

At the Base Area

Always take care of your lift ticket first. If you purchased it online, there should be a note on where
to go to redeem it. Don’t get in the general lift ticket line if you don’t have to - it’s usually longer.
Once you’ve got your ticket, put it on your snow pants, not your jacket. If it warms up through the
day, you may want to take your jacket off, but if your ticket is on it, you’re stuck with it.

The people who give you your ticket can point you toward the gear rental shop. Once there, be
patient with the person helping you pick gear. They have a lot of experience helping new skiers, so
listen to their advice, it might seem counter-intuitive, but in the long run you’ll be thankful you did.
Putting on ski boots for the first time can be a major hurdle for most people. So we’ve put together
this guide to putting on & fitting ski boots.

Should You Take A Ski Lesson?

Once you’ve got your gear, we highly recommend that you sign up for a lesson. Sure, you can
figure out how to ski on your own, but it takes a long time, and involves crashing, a lot. Instead, we
highly recommend that everyone take a lesson. You’ll learn the fundamentals in a controlled
environment, and save yourself a lot of pain.

In addition to providing specialized coaching to help you master the fundamentals, taking a lesson
is also a great way to learn your way around the mountain and figure out what sort of runs you are
capable of. Lessons are built around the idea of progression: growing throughout the day in your
confidence and skills as a skier. Instructors are really good at picking terrain and techniques that
will push your ability in a safe environment and make you a better skier. Even if you’ve skied a few
days in the past, a lesson to start the day is always a good idea.

How to Get On and Off Chairlifts on Skis

Chairlifts are one of the most intimidating parts of skiing, but they don’t need to be. The most
important thing is to pay attention in the lift line. There’s a structured pattern to how people load the
lift, and if you pay attention it will make a lot more sense. If you take a lesson, your instructor will
help make sure you’re prepared to ride the lift. If you’re still worried, you can always let the
attendant know that this is your first time. They can help make sure you get where you’re supposed
to be, and can even slow down the lift as you load to make it less intimidating. As long as you pay
attention and communicate well, chairlifts are safe and easy. As you slide into the line, make sure to
take your pole straps off your wrists, and if you’re wearing a backpack, slide it onto one shoulder,
or take it off and put it in your lap, so it doesn’t hit the chair. Shuffle up to the marked loading line
on the ground and look back over your shoulder as the chair comes toward you. Sit down on it and
lift your tips and you’re good to go.

When getting off the chair, make sure to lift the restraining bar when you see signs as you near the
top. Keep the tips of your skis up as you near the loading dock, and as you slide past the line on the
ground, stand up and let the chair gently push you down the ramp. Pay attention to the people
around you, and maybe even communicate which way you’re going before you get off the chair, so
you don’t get tangled up on the ramp. It’s important to clear the unloading area quickly so that
there’s room for the folks behind you.

How to Ski - Basic Technique for Beginner Skiers

You’ve got the gear, you’ve got your ticket, you’re ready to ride the lifts, what comes next? The fun
part of course! It's time to learn how to ski. At its core, skiing is all about making turns to control
your speed down a hill. Turns don’t just change the direction you’re going, they slow you down too.
If you take a lesson, your instructor will go over all of this with you, but if you don’t, here’s some
basic beginner skiing tips to keep in mind.

It’s All About Your Edges

The most important part of your skis is the little metal parts along the edge of your bases. These dig
into the snow and allow you to turn and stop. You control them by tilting your skis side to side.
Your skis will naturally want to turn whichever way you lean them, since leaning engages their
inside edge.

Pizza and French Fries on Skis

Nope, pizza isn’t just for the lodge cafeteria. It’s also one of the first basics you should master.
Pizzaing is when you wedge your skis so that the tips are closer together than the tails. This pushes
snow and slows you down. This is the first skill you should work on, it’s the basis everything else is
built on. French frying is when your skis are parallel, this allows you to go faster. French fry is fast,
pizza is slow, both are delicious!

How to Turn on Skis

Turns come from your whole body. To turn on skis, look where you want to go, engage your core,
swivel your hips, bend your knees, and roll your ankles to turn. So try to make sure you’re not just
focusing on one part of your body. Beginner skiers have a tendency to try to do everything with just
their ankles, forcing the skis to turn. This is really tiring and makes it hard to stay in control.
Instead, pivot and lean with your whole body.

How to Stop on Skis

Anyone can go fast on skis, maybe not Mikaela Schiffrin fast, but fast enough to be out of control -
stopping is often the hard part for beginner skiers. Before you leave the bunny hill you need to learn
how to hockey stop. A hockey stop is when you swivel both skis so that they’re perpendicular to the
direction the slope is going. This allows you to use your edges to stop very quickly. The key to
hockey stopping is finding the natural pivot point of your skis. This is usually about halfway from
the front of your boots to the tip. Imagine a pin there that your ski rotates around, and use your hips
to initiate a swivel around that point. This technique takes some practicing, but once you’ve got it
you can stop just about anywhere.
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Tips to Stay Comfortable Throughout the Day Skiing

 Wear sunscreen. Even if it’s overcast, any sun will reflect up from the snow and burn your
nose and face. It’s a good idea to put on sunscreen at the beginning of the day and at lunch.
 Keep your phone warm. Cold kills phone batteries. Store your phone in a zippered pocket
inside your jacket to keep it warm. That way you won’t miss that special photo because your
phone is dead.
 Keep your goggles off your forehead. When you go inside the lodge it’s tempting to hang
out with your goggles up on your forehead. If you do, they will fog and never clear up. The
sweat from your skin fogs them up. Instead take them all the way off and hang them from a
hook in the lodge.
  Call it quits before you think you’re too tired to keep skiing. Most injuries happen at the
end the of the day when you’re tired and just trying to get that “one more run.” Stop skiing
while you’re still having fun, save your legs for another day.

Learn More With Our Other Ski Guides:

 
  
Skis - Size Chart & Buyer's Guide
Skis - Kids' Size Chart and Buyer's Guide
Skis - Rocker Technology Explained
Ski Bindings – How to Choose & DIN Setting Chart
Ski Boots - Sizing & Buyer's Guide
Ski Boots - Boot Sole & Ski Binding Compatibility
Ski Boots – How to Make Your Boots Fit Better
Ski Poles - Size Chart
Skiing - Beginner Skiing Tips
Skiing - How to Fly With Skis
Skiing - How to Get in Shape
Ski Maintenance - Base Repair
Ski Maintenance – How to Store for the Summer
Ski Maintenance – How to Tune
Ski Maintenance – How to Wax
Footbeds - How to Choose
Gloves & Mittens - How to Choose
Goggles - How to Choose
Goggles - Wearing Goggles with Glasses
Helmets - How to Choose & Fit Guide
Outerwear - What to Wear Skiing & Snowboarding
Outerwear - How to Wash Waterproof Jackets & Clothing
Outerwear - Regional Ski & Snowboard Guide
Ski Socks - Sizing & Buyer's Guide
Alpine Touring Skis - How to Choose
Avalanche Probes - How to Choose
Backcountry - Choosing an Avalanche Airbag Pack
Backcountry - Choosing an Avalanche Beacon
Backcountry - Climbing Skins Size Guide
Backcountry - Dynafit / Tech Binding Basics
Backcountry - How to Buy Alpine Touring Bindings
Backcountry - How to Buy Alpine Touring Ski Boots
Backcountry - How to Choose an Avalanche Shovel
Backcountry - How to Choose Climbing Skins
Backcountry Backpacks - How to Choose
Backcountry Basics - How to Get Started
 
 

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This is evo. We are a ski, snowboard, wake, skate, bike, surf, camp and clothing online retailer with
physical stores in Seattle, Portland, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Whistler. Our goal is to provide
you with great information to make both your purchase and up-keep easy.

evo also likes to travel to remote places across the globe in search of world-class powder turns, epic
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How to Ski
Download Article

PARTS

1Knowing the Rules of the Slope

2Putting Your Skis On

3Learning the Basics

+Show 4 more...

OTHER SECTIONS

Questions & Answers

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References
Article Summary
Author Info
Last Updated: March 10, 2021 References

While the idea of skiing may inspire images of powdery snow, gorgeous vistas and steamy hot
chocolate, it is important to remember that skiing is no walk in the park. It is, however, a thrilling
sport that can satiate anyone's need for an adrenaline rush. If you've always wanted to try out skiing
but have not yet had the opportunity to do so, this guide can help you get started. Keep in mind that
while this article covers the basics of alpine ("downhill") skiing, it is not a substitute for actual
lessons — read on and then go enroll in a class to begin to have ridiculous amounts of snowy fun!
Part 1
Knowing the Rules of the Slope
1.

1
Learn how to distinguish trail difficulty. You can tell how hard a trail is by the symbol on the
trail marker or ski map. In North America, trail difficulty is indicated as follows:
 A green circle indicates an easy, or beginner, trail. These trails are not too steep, will
contain few or no obstacles, and usually aren't too long.
 A blue square indicates an intermediate trail. It may contain some obstacles, moguls
(many small bumps of snow), or have a steeper grade. You shouldn't go on these until
you've mastered the easier trails.
 A double blue square indicates a difficult blue, and under bad snow conditions, can
be closer to a black diamond trail. However, these are less commonly found across North
American resorts.
 A black diamond indicates a difficult trail. It may contain obstacles, steeper moguls,
and a steep grade with a narrow way down. Don't attempt a trail like this if you are
uncomfortable with the most difficult blue runs. If you doubt you are ready, you probably
aren't. Many people have been injured by attempting too difficult a run too early.
 A double black diamond, or a black diamond with an exclamation mark in it,
indicates a run that should only be attempted by very advanced skiers. Do not go down a
run like this unless you are completely comfortable with all other single black diamond
runs. It's a good idea to ski these runs with a partner. Once you are ready for a double
black, be sure it does not have "EX" in the middle. This indicates an 'Expert Only" trail,
the only thing harder than this is heli-skiing. (Where they drop you off in helicopters.
These slopes are very avalanche prone.)
  In European countries a red trail is equivalent to double black diamond
2.

2
Know that these difficulty ratings are only in comparison to other trails at the same
resort. Therefore, a run marked with a blue square at one resort may be more challenging than a run
marked with a black diamond at another resort. For this reason, when skiing at a new resort, you
should always begin with a green run and work your way up, even if you are an accomplished skier.

3.

3
Know who has the right of way on the slope. People ahead of you (meaning down the slope from
you) have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them, even if they fall right in front of
you. Because of this, it is best to keep a fair amount of distance between you and the skier or
snowboarder in front of you.[1]

4.

4
Always stay in control when on the slope. It is your responsibility to know what speed and slope
difficulty you can handle. Do not go on a black diamond simply because you think you are a
natural-born skier. You run the risk of seriously injuring, even killing someone else, or yourself, if
you crash.

5.

5
Do not stop on the trail if you cannot be seen from above. While it is common to stop and catch
your breath on the slope, it's very dangerous to stop if you obstruct the trail or cannot be seen by
someone coming down the trail from above. People coming down the slope could crash into you.[2]
  If you do feel the need to stop, try to stop at the top of the next section of the slope
that's visible from above, like the crest of a hill
 Pull over to the side of the run to stop, rather than stopping in the middle of the run.
Score
0 / 5
Part 1 Quiz
If you're just learning to ski, you should stick to slopes marked with what shape?

A black diamond

A blue square

A double blue square

A green circle
Part 2
Putting Your Skis On
1.

1
Put on your ski boots. If you are renting your boots, ask an attendant to help you figure out which
boot is best for you. You'll need to find the right size and adjust the tightness. At rest, your foot
should be be essentially immobile but not compressed. Your toes should not press against the front
of the boot when you bend your knees to point your shins slightly forward at the angle of the boot.
The top of the boot should be snug around your ankle.[3]
 It's easiest to walk in ski boots by taking long steps, smoothly rolling the stiff boot
bottom forward heel-to-toe with your lower leg straight as your body passes over.
 Once you have your boots on, carry your skis and poles out to the snow. The skis
have sharp metal edges that might have jagged spots, so carry them with gloves.

2.

2
Separate your skis. Your skis might be locked together, bottom-to-bottom, by the clip-like "snow
brakes" extending from the bindings past the flat sides. Their purpose is to keep the skis from
sliding away when they pop off your boots during a fall, which protects your knees from twisting.
They also make your skis easier to carry. Find a flat area in the snow. Set the pair of skis upright on
their back end, hold down the one with its brake "inside", and gently shake and wiggle off the one
with its brake "outside".

3.

3
Step into your skis. Set the skis pointing in the same direction about a foot apart. Most skis will
work on either foot, but check to see if your skis have any "L" or "R" markings on them and, if so,
put them on the correct side. Stick your poles in the snow on each side of the skis, a few inches to
the side and next to the front edge of the binding. Hold onto the poles and, one foot at a time, tuck
the flange at the boot's toe into the front binding and then push the flange at the boot's heel into the
rear binding, which should close with a click. Slide each foot back and forth a little to check that the
ski has attached. If it hasn't, try again.
 If you didn't hear a click, try again.
 If there is too much snow on the bottom of your boot, it may not click into the ski
properly. Kick the boot with snow against your other boot to get the snow off and try
again.

4.

4
Learn how to take your skis off. To take off a ski, or to reset its latch to retry a failed mounting
(or if it fails to reset itself after detaching from your boot during a fall), push down the lever behind
the boot so that it is parallel to the ski. This is most easily pushed with a pole by putting the spike
into the indentation.
 If you fall and have trouble righting yourself, take off the ski on your "ground side"
(the side that is flat on the ground), right yourself with the other ski and poles, and then
remount the removed ski.
Score
0 / 5
Part 2 Quiz
How can you tell when a ski has attached to your boot?

Your foot will feel compressed.

 You won't be able to move the boot without moving the ski.

You'll hear a click.

Part 3
Learning the Basics
1.

1
Enroll in ski lessons. Although this may not be a first option for everyone, since they can be
expensive, it is arguably the fastest way to get the basics down. Look for beginners' classes that are
offered at ski resorts and on the mountain.
 It is best to enroll in a class weeks before you will go up to the mountains, as they
generally fill up quickly. Enroll in a class that fits your age group (or else you may
accidentally end up in a childrens' ski class.)
 Many resorts offer inexpensive and plentiful lift-ticket, rental and beginner group
class packages. You can generally show up and sign right up. Some have inexpensive
novice and intermediate level group short classes running on a schedule throughout the
day as well. These are great for working out initial kinks, as a refresher, or to build
confidence for bigger hills.

2.

2
Learn how to stop. Point the front tip of your skis together, then push your heels out to form a
wedge. This is known as the "pizza", "wedge", or "snowplow"[4] . The wider you spread your skis,
the slower you go.
 Keep in mind that this method works best for slopes that are less steep.
 Never overlap the tips of your skis; you will easily lose control.

3.

3
Learn how to walk in skis. One of the first things you should learn is how to move around in skis.
You will end up walking in skis when you are getting to a lift, or if you fall and have to get to a
wayward ski, among other instances. One of the most common ways to move yourself over flat
terrain is to keep the skis parallel and push yourself forward with your poles. With both arms
simultaneously, stab the poles into the snow beside you, pull yourself forward, and repeat. Pull one
side more than the other to turn.
 Do not "saw" the skis back and forth as with a skiing exerciser or move arms
alternately: cross-country skiing[5] uses special hinged bindings to enable sweeping ski
motion and wax to help pressure on part of the ski during part of the sawing motion move
you forward. This method is good for starting onto a downhill stretch because the skis are
positioned parallel, ready to go.
 When first starting to ski, expect to use more muscle than when you are more skilled.

4. 4
Learn how to walk uphill in skis. This will help you if you need to get to a trail that begins uphill
of where you are, or if you need to get to a ski pole that you lost when you fell.
 Try to "side-step" up an incline. Stand perpendicular (sideways) to the slope of the
hill, so that you are not moving. Dig the uphill edges of your skis into the snow and take
small steps uphill, sideways like a crab. Keep the skis perpendicular to the slope right
where you are, and use the poles to keep from slipping as you work your way sideways
up the hill. This is the easiest and least tiring way to get uphill.
 "Herringbone" technique (named after the fish-bone patterns the skis leave in the
snow). Point the front tips of your skis away from each other, so they make a "V" shape,
and take small steps forward. Tilt the leading edge into the snow and push forward to
prevent slipping back. Bend your knees and lean forward a little so you can use the
stronger leg-extension muscles to push yourself forward rather than the weaker leg-
rotation muscles to pass one ski after another under you. Spread the skis more on steeper
hills and if you begin to slide backwards. Use the poles to avoid falling over, but keep
them away from the skis, so you don't trip on them.
 Skate-skiing is fastest way to get uphill.[6] . Angle the skis as if to "herringbone", but
allow yourself to slide forward smoothly on one close to directly under you and transition
to gently digging it in sideways and kicking it outward as you place the other ski under
you on the other side, maintaining forward momentum, much as with ice skating.[7] .
You'll smoothly transition to herringbone movement on steep surfaces. This method takes
more coordination and muscle than the other two.

5.
5
Know which technique works best for you. The leg muscles are stronger than the arm muscles,
especially in women and untrained men, so as a beginner try to use the side-step and herringbone
techniques as much as possible to avoid prematurely tiring your upper body and lower body.
 Do not go up any hills until you are confident in basic movements with your skis.

6.

6
Assume the basic skiing posture. Bend your knees so your shins rest on the front of the boots and
lean forward slightly. The length of the skis will make falling forward unlikely. Leaning back is
tempting when you're feeling out of control, but it will not stop you and will make the skis harder to
control. Put your hands through the straps on the ski poles and hold the poles by your sides. You
don't need them to ski as a beginner, but they are useful for walking. [8]
 Do not bend sharply forward. Ski racers often use the "French egg position" of
hunching forward onto their thighs to minimize air resistance in straights, but it keeps the
hips from swiveling and the arms from swinging freely for balance or leveraging poles
for turns.

7.

7
Keep yourself from sliding around. Spread the tips apart (herringbone) to stop sliding backwards,
and the backs apart (wedge) to stop sliding forwards. Be careful that you don't end up in
uncomfortable "splits".

8.

8
Learn how to turn. Once you have mastered the “pizza”, you can move on to a more advanced
way of stopping. Turning is an important part of skiing (as well as stopping). To turn, all you have
to do is point your feet (and your skis) in the direction you want to travel. For a strong "parallel
turn", push the "outside" ski away from the body keeping it parallel to the direction of travel. You
and your skis will turn. For an extra smooth "carved" turn, tilt the outside ski's ankle [9] to bite its
ski's inside edge into the snow and ride on a banked turn. You should feel the ski cutting into the
snow to generate the turning force, rather than sliding sideways over the snow. If you want to stop
while turning, keep your feet in the plow position and turn across and slightly up the hill. You will
come to a slow stop.[10]
 Eventually, you will be able to stop simply by turning and placing enough force
against the snow that you come to a halt with your skis still in a parallel position.
 A very quick parallel turn of the skis before the body's motion has a chance
to catch up to their new orientation, followed by pressure on the uphill ski to dig
them into the snow, results in a "hockey stop". This takes practice!

9.

9
Learn how to fall. If you are about to crash into a tree or another person, and are a beginner, don't
try to swerve, as you will probably hit something else. Instead, just fall to your side. When possible,
fall uphill as you are much less likely to get injured when you fall uphill (your distance to fall is
shorter and your skis stay downhill from your body). Try to absorb a fall with your hip and
shoulder.
 Do not try to catch yourself with your arms, as you are much more likely to injure
your arms than you are to injure your hip or shoulder.
 Try to stay as relaxed as possible when you fall. If you feel yourself falling, try not
to tense up or you will probably do more damage to yourself. When you tense up, your
muscles become tight and you are much more likely to pull something.

10. 10
Learn how to get up after falling. Move so that your head is towards the top of the hill and your
feet are at the bottom. Get your skis perpendicular to the slope, and dig the inside edge of the
bottom ski into the snow. You can push up from the slope using the hand closest to the slope, or try
using your poles.
 If you are unable to push yourself with one hand, turn your skis around, and try
getting up with your other hand.
11.
11
Learn how to use a chairlift.
 Ski-walk up to the chairlift. If you have poles, be sure to take the straps off your
wrist and safely hold both poles in one hand. Keeping your poles on your wrists can be
dangerous and will make it more challenging to get on the lift.
 Wait until the operator indicates it's your turn, and then quickly move into the
loading area. Once there, look over your shoulder to watch the chair coming around.
 As it approaches, you can optionally grab the side pole or back of the chair to steady
yourself. Then simply sit down and allow it to pick you up. Don't be alarmed if it seems
to be coming around quickly.
 Lifts usually have room for two, four or even six people per chair, so make sure you
and your friend are side by side when the chair approaches.
 Enjoy the view, but don't lean over the edge of the chair while you are in the air,
even if your ski or a mitten falls off. You will be able to get it later. Leaning too far out of
the lift could cause you to fall, which almost always results in serious injury and can
occasionally lead to death.
 When your chair reaches the top, point your ski tips upward and straight forward.
Push away from the chair as it goes around. Use the movement of the chair to propel you
up and away from the lift.[11]
 If you fail to get off the chairlift at the right point, do not panic, and do not try to
jump down. You will automatically trip a switch which will stop the lift, and somebody
will help you down.
Score
0 / 5
Part 3 Quiz
What's the quickest way to walk uphill in downhill skis?

Use the herringbone technique.

Side-step up the hill.

Skate-ski up the hill.

Push yourself up the hill with your poles.

Part 4
Testing Out the Bunny Slope
1.
1
Start on the bunny hill. A bunny hill is defined as a small slope, possibly with a rope tow. Go up
the carpet lift, rope tow or chairlift to the top of the bunny hill.
 A carpet lift is a big conveyor belt. In one arrangement, you push yourself forward
onto the leading edge, ride it most of the way with your poles on the belt, ready to brace
yourself on them against a sudden stop usually caused by a child's or beginner's error.
Several feet from the end, lift your poles to avoid jamming the end mechanism and lean
gently forward to smoothly ski to a halt off the end of it.
 If it is a rope tow, wait until a handle comes around, grab it, and allow the rope to
pull you up. Do not drag yourself or sit on the rope tow. When the rope pulls you to the
top, let go and use the herring board to get away from the lift.
2.

2
Ready yourself at the top. Watch out for others, especially if the bunny slope is at the foot of
another slope from which other skiers may come in fast. Allow yourself to begin sliding down the
slope, but go slowly. Keep your skis pointed together. Once you reach the bottom, point the skis
toward each other and make a wide angle. This will stop you fairly quickly. If you fall, point the
skis so they point across the slope, not down it. Push yourself up, orient yourself, and continue
down the slope.

3.

3
Go down the slope. For your first few times going down the hill, you may want to stay in the
“pizza” position (which gives you the most control.) After you have done the bunny hill a few
times, you will likely begin to want to turn. To do this, shift your weight onto the ski that is not in
the direction you want to turn. Pushing against it tends to swing your body sideways behind it so
that it continues, now at an angle cutting against the snow, in front of you. Lean into and dig the ski
edges into a turn a little to make it sharper. Plan ahead: curves will be wide at first. Give obstacles
plenty of space! Once you know how to do this, you can go down the hill in a curved kind of
zigzag.
 Look ahead. If you're looking directly down at your skis while going down a run,
you could hit a tree, another person, or anything else that might block your path.

4.

4
Keep your weight in the correct place. If you lean too far back, you will have a very hard time
turning, which may cause you to lose control and crash. If you lean too far forward, your skis will
get squirrelly, and you may wipe out. A good technique is to keep your knees slightly bent, and
keep your hands in front of you, like you're holding a lunch tray.
Score
0 / 5
Part 4 Quiz
Why might it be a good idea to keep your skis in a wedge formation the first time you go down
the bunny hill?

So you'll go slower

So you'll have more control.

So you won't have to use your poles.

Part 5
Trying More Advanced Trails
1.

1
Move on to more advanced trails. Once you have mastered the bunny hill -- that is, you can ride
the lift, walk on the flat part, ski down in a controlled manner, turn both ways and stop with ease --
you should be ready to try a beginner hill. Consult with your instructor. See if he or she thinks you
are ready, and then get ready for the rest of the mountain!
2.
2
Start with your first beginner trail. Consult the ski map to find a suitable trail. It should be close
to the base area. Try to find a green run that starts at the top of a lift and ends at the base area, or a
series of trails that are all green. Ride up the lift, and start on the trail.
3.

3
Try skiing without using the "pizza technique". As you go down more runs, you should learn to
ski without using the technique that keeps you moving slowly. Once you become accustomed to
skiing the green trails, try putting your skis parallel to each other for parts of the slope. Parallel
skiing will cause you to go faster. Instead of going back into pizza turn across the mountain to
control your speed. Instead of using the pizza technique, try using the parallel stopping technique.
Stopping parallel will make you stop faster and have more control.
4.

4
Try your first intermediate trail. Before selecting a trail, make sure you know how to turn and
stop. These skills will be very important. Select a trail that starts at the top of a lift and ends at the
base area, or select a path made up of blue and green trails. While going down the intermediate trail,
you may notice it is steeper and you will probably wipe out a little more. Don't worry about this.
With practice, these trails will become easier.
5.

5
Stick with the intermediate trails for a while. There are generally more intermediate trails than
any other kind of trail. This is your chance to really get comfortable on your skis. Practice all of the
techniques listed above. Enjoy yourself! Explore all of the intermediate trails and find the one you
like best--then go down it multiple times!
6.
6
Attempt a black diamond trail. Always ski with caution. By now, you have left the pizza far
behind and are now using parallel skiing and, hopefully, turning to make your way down the
mountain. If you are not yet at this stage, please stick to the intermediate trails, because you can get
hurt and disturb other experienced skiers if you try to start hard trails too soon. You should also
learn to turn with the edges of your skis as you advance.
 If you do find yourself on a trail that you think you can't handle, by all means, ask
somebody to get the ski patrol. They will most likely give you a "courtesy" ride down in a
toboggan. Also, don't be afraid to ask any of the ski patrol or other mountain staff if you
have any questions about any particular trail or the mountain as a whole.
7.

7
Try skiing some moguls. Moguls are mounds of snow created by repeated turns made on
ungroomed runs. Only more advanced skiers should try a mogul run out, as they can be very
challenging to ski without falling many times. When going down a mogul run, you want to curve up
and around the mounds. To control yourself, only ski as fast as you can handle. Make sure you can
stop your skis at any time.
 As you get more comfortable with the moguls, you can begin to point your skis
down the slope, which will cause you to travel more quickly down and around the
moguls.
Skiing
1. 1. { Skiing
2. 2. History of Skiing It started over 5000 years ago. Pre-historic Nordic people invented skiing to
assist hunting, and as a snow transport for themselves. The skis were like two pieces of wood,
and were tied into the foot with a rope. The word ski comes from the old norse (nordic people
language) word “skio”, that means “split piece of wood”.
3. 3. While the time passed, people invented more advanced methods to produce skis. They
started to make them longer and thinner, and they put some holders, to keep skis and boots
together. So they removed the ropes and it became easier for them.
4. 4. Skiing Equipment Nowadays the skis have developed their perfect shape. There are also
inventions for skier’s safety, like established gloves, head protection (helmet), back protection,
etc.
5. 5. There is also ski equipment to keep the skier warm. (ski socks, ski underwear, ski clothing,
coat gloves, ski masks, etc.
6. 6. Types of skiing The two primary types of skiing techniques are Telemark Skiing and Alpine
Skiing but many sub groups, I will try to explain the most popular groups.
7. 7. Telemark Skiing This is a type of skiing not used as often nowadays. It was popular in 80’s.
Telemark skiing is still in the Olympics however. The back side of the boot detaches from the
ski allowing the skier to have more mobility.
8. 8. Alpine Skiing Race disciplines of alpine skiing are: -Slalom -Giant Slalom -Downhill -Super G
9. 9. Slalom Skiing In the slalom discipline, the gates are closer to each other and are odd. The
racer should have under-knee protection, hand protection, helmet protection, etc. The racer
should go as close as possible to the gate and should hit it with his hand protection or under
knee protection, in order to free his way. This is the course that slalom racers should follow:
10. 10. Giant Slalom In this discipline gates are further from each other, and they are double, linked
with a flag. In this discipline, the racer doesn’t need special equipment, because he doesn’t
touch the gate. There is a possibility to touch it with the shoulder, but you don’t need anything
for it.
11. 11. Downhill Skiing This is a high speed discipline. The racer’s speed is about 130 km/h. Skis
are 30% longer than in slalom, to have more balance. Skis are over 2.3 m long. The risks are
big. Gates are very far from each other, and they are all the same color (differently from the
other disciplines). In this discipline, racers often jump, because of their high speed.
12. 12. Super G Skiing This is a combination of Giant Slalom and Downhill. It involves skiing
between widely spaced gates as in Giant Slalom, but with fewer turns over a longer course and
with higher speeds approaching those achieved in Downhill. The skis are also long (min. 205cm
for men, and 200 for women)
13. 13. The End By Kristjan Craig

Skiing
1. 1. By: Nguyen Huong N.
2. 2. • Travel on top of snow uses long runners, snowboards or skis. • It can be an exercise, a
recreational activity, a competitive sport, and even uses for military or transport purposes.
3. 3. Freestyle skiing is a form of skiing which originally encompassed two disciplines: aerials, and
moguls. Besides those freestyle skiing now consists of ski-cross, half-pipe and slope style.
4. 4. Heli-skiing is off-trail, downhill skiing that is accessed by a helicopter. Heli-skiing is essentially
about skiing in a natural, high mountain.
5. 5. COMPETITIVE CLASSES GATES SPEED TECH. Slalom 1 4 1 Giant S. 2 3 1 Super G 3 2 2
Downhill 4 1 2 & DISABLED SKIING
6. 6. Ski touring is done on trails which are not maintained, and without any mechanical lifts to get
up hills. Typically, skis, bindings, and boots allow for free movement of the heel to enable a
walking pace.
 7. 7. It is a form of ski touring. As a sport, cross-country skiing is one of the most difficult
endurance sports, as its motions use every major muscle group, and it is one of the sports that
burn the most calories per hour in execution.
8. 8. Ski mountaineering is a sport that combines the techniques of skiing (often ski touring) with
those of mountaineering.
9. 9. A form of downhill skiing using bindings where the boot is attached only at the toe. Because
the heel is free, it allows the skier to go into a lunge position in order to turn. That technique is
called the telemark turn.
10. 10. A sport in which skiers go down a take- off ramp, jump and attempt to land the farthest
down on the hill below. The Ski Flying World Record of 809 ft. is held by Johan R. E. in Norway
(Feb 2011)
11. 11. The action of being pulled over snow or ice on skis by a horse or dog, as a sport or
recreation activity
12. 12. FREESTYLE SKI TOURING HELISKIING CROSS- COUNTRY SKIING COMPERTITIVE:
SKI MOUNTAINEERING SLALOM GIANT SLALOM TELEMARK SKIING SUPER- G
DOWNHILL SKI FLYING & SKI JUMPING DISABLED SKIING SKIJORING
13. 13. PRESENTATION NGUYEN HUONG N.

Presentation Transcript

1. Planning to go on a Ski Trip

2. Tanika Lucas-Clay Kristan Clark Wenting Hu Michael Mccane Planning to go on a Ski
Trip
3. Keep warm 12 Buddy System 13 Learning how to Ski 14 Preparing to Ski 15 Put on your
Skis 16 Basic Skills 17 Starting to Ski 18 Ski Movement 19 Trial Difficulty 20 Techniques 21 •
Getting Started 4 • Planning to go5 • Picking a Resort 6 • Ski Gear7 • Ski Safety Tips 8 •
Preparing your Body 9 • Preparation 10 • Ski Wear 11 Table of Contents
4. When planning to go skiing there are certain precaution to keep in mind. This Guide
will help you have a safe and successful vacation! Getting Started
5. When to go? Reservations Decide a month in advance where you want to stay and
make reservations to that resort. • Ski season: The ski season runs roughly from the end of
November to the end of April. The busiest and most expensive times are around New Years
and around Easter and in February; but the best time for beginners is January. Planning to
go
6. When picking a ski resort there are a few things to keep in mind such as: Prices,
restaurant locations, and entertainment. • Prices- When choosing a place to stay keep in
mind the budget that you want to stay within not limiting yourself to expensive condos on
the resort but also more affordable hotels in town. • Dining- Keep in mind when choosing a
location to be sure that there are restaurants that will enjoy and affordable near by. •
Nightlife- If you take interest in an exciting nightlife consider the bar/club locations near by
the location you choose. Picking a Resort
7. When planning to go skiing you should consider dressing in layers. • Base Layer-
Thermal Body Shirt, Thermal Pants, and Ski Socks. • Second Layer- Fleece Jackets or Sweater,
Ski Pants, and Ski Boots. • Finishing the Basics- Ski Helmets, Ski Hat, or Beanie, Ski Goggles,
Ski Jacket,Skis, Ski Bindings, Ski Gloves, and Ski Poles. Ski gear Tip: Consider wearing Gore-
Tex which is a waterproof and breathable fabric. It will work as an insulation keeping you
warm and dry.
8. Some ski safety tips are: • Exercise in advance • Stay Hydrated • Use proper ski
equipment • Get proper instruction • Wear a helmet • Wear goggles • Wear Gloves • Prepare
for the weather • Take a break • Ski with a friend Ski Safety Tips
9. Exercise in Advance Stay Hydrated Drink lots of fluids because even though it’s cold
you can sweat excessively due to insulated clothing. • Keep in mind that skiing is physically
demanding you’ll want to be in shape to avoid injury. Preparing your body
10. Use proper ski equipment Use proper instructions If you are a beginner try to sign up
for ski lessons and if you haven't skied in a while it doesn’t hurt to refresh. • Try not to
borrow equipment. Rent from a ski shop or the ski resort. When buying equipment, make
sure your ski boots are fitted properly. In both cases, make sure your bindings are properly
adjusted. Preparation
11. Wear a Helmet Wear Googles Wear ski goggles that fit properly around your helmet. If
you wear eyeglasses, buy goggles that fit comfortably over your eyeglasses or consider
prescription goggles. • Wearing protective headgear while skiing makes good sense. The
most important tip I would offer to all parents and guardians ¬is to give a child no choice but
to wear a helmet. Ski Wear
12. Prepare for the Weather Wear Gloves Make sure you have waterproof gloves so your
hands can stay warms. • Wear layers of clothes and wear a helmet liner, a hat, or a
headband. Wear gloves or mittens. Bring an extra pair in case the first pair gets wet. Keep
Warm
13. Take a break Ski with a friend It's always safer to ski with a friend so he or she can
watch out for you and vice versa. Prearrange a meeting place in case you get separated. • If
you're tired, take a break and rest for a while in the lodge. While you're resting, make sure
you eat and drink enough. Skiing burns a lot of energy! Buddy System
14. Take lessons • Put on your ski boots • Put on your skis • Assume the basic skiing
posture • Learn how to walk in skis • Start on the bunny hill • Ready yourself at the top •
Learn how to turn • Move on the rest of the ski hill • Learn how to distinguish trail difficulty •
Start with your first beginner trail • Try skiing without using the “pizza technique.” • Try your
first intermediate trail Learning how to Ski
15. Take Lessons: Although this may not be a first option for everyone, since they can be
expensive and sometimes aren't fun, it is arguably the fastest way to get the basics down.
Look for beginners' classes that are offered in skiing resorts and mountains. • Put on your
ski boots: You'll need to find the right size and adjust the tightness. At rest, your foot should
be essentially immobile but not compressed. Your toes should not press against the front of
the boot when you bend your knees to point your shins slightly forward at the angle of the
boot. The top of the boot should be snug around your ankle. Preparing to Ski
16. Put on your Skis: . If your skis are locked together, bottom-to-bottom, by the clip-like
"snow brakes" extending from the bindings past the flat sides (their purpose is to keep the
skis from running away when they pop off the boots to protect your feet from excessive
twisting), set the skis upright on their back end, hold down the one with its brake "inside",
and gently shake and wiggle off the one with its brake "outside". • Set the skis pointing in the
same direction about a foot apart. Stick the poles in the snow on each side of the skis, a few
inches to the side and next to the front edge of the binding. Hold onto the poles and, one
foot at a time, tuck the flange at the boot's toe into the front binding and then push the
flange at the boot's heel into the rear binding, which should close with a click. • Slide each
foot back and forth a little to check that the ski has attached. If it hasn't, try again. To take off
a ski, or to reset its latch to retry a failed mounting, push down the lever behind the boot to
 be parallel to the ski. This is most easily pushed with a pole, by putting the spike into the
indention. Put on your skis
17. Assume the basic skiing posture: Bend your knees so your shins rest on the front of
the boots and also lean forward slightly. The length of the skis will make falling forward
unlikely. Leaning back will not normally stop you, but will make the skis hard to control. Put
your hands through the straps on the ski poles and hold the poles by your sides. During
most actual skiing, you'll want them ready to use, but won't actually use them. • Learn how
to walk in skis: One of the first things you should learn is how to move around in skis. There
are a few methods: Keep the skis parallel and push yourself forward with the poles. With
both arms simultaneously, stab the poles, angled gently rearward, into the snow beside you,
rotate your entire arms smoothly backward, and repeat. The angle lets you use your
stronger shoulder muscles rather than your weaker forearm muscles to pull back. Pull one
side more than the other to turn. Basic Skills
18. Start on the bunny hill: Start on the bunny hill. A bunny hill is defined as a small slope,
preferably with a rope tow. Go up the carpet lift, rope tow or chairlift to the top of the bunny
hill. A carpet lift is a big conveyor belt. In one arrangement, you push yourself forward onto
the leading edge, ride it most of the way with your poles on the belt, ready to brace yourself
on them against a sudden stop usually caused by a child's or beginner's error. Several feet
from the end, lift your poles to avoid jamming the end mechanism and lean gently forward
to smoothly ski to a halt off the end of it. • Ready yourself at the top: Watch out for others,
especially if the bunny slope is at the foot of another slope from which other skiers may
come in fast. First, familiarize yourself with the technique for stopping or slowing down:
point your skis together, then push your heels out to form a wedge with an open point and
the leading sides tilted slightly up into the oncoming snow. This is known as the "pizza",
"wedge", or "snowplow" after an old-fashioned wedge-shaped plow[6]. The wider you
spread it, the slower you go. Do not overlap your skis: that tends to lose to a loss of control.
Allow yourself to begin sliding down the slope, but go slowly. Keep your skis pointed
together. Once you reach the bottom, point the skis toward each other and make a wide
angle. This will stop you fairly quickly. If you fall, point the skis so they point across the slope,
not down it. Push yourself up, orient yourself, and continue down the slope. Starting to ski
19. Learn how to turn: After you have done the bunny hill a few times, you will likely begin
to want to turn. To do this, shift your weight onto the ski that is not in the direction you want
to turn. Pushing against it tends to swing your body sideways behind it so that it continues,
now at an angle cutting against the snow, in front of you. Lean into and dig the ski edges
into a turn a little to make it sharper. Plan ahead: curves will be wide at first. Give obstacles
plenty of space! Once you know how to do this, you can go down the hill in a curved kind of
zigzag. • Move on the rest of the ski hill: Once you have mastered the bunny hill -- that is,
you can ride the lift, walk on the flat part, ski down, turn both ways and stop with ease -- you
should be ready to try a beginner hill. Consult with your instructor. See if he or she thinks
you are ready, and then get ready for the rest of the mountain! Ski movement
20. Learn how to distinguish trail difficulty: You can tell how hard a trail is by the symbol
on the trail marker or ski map. In North America, trail difficulty is indicated as follows: A
green circle indicates an easy, or beginner, trail. These trails are not too fast, will contain few
obstacles, and aren't too long. • Start with your first beginner trail: Consult the ski map to
find a suitable trail. It should be close to the base area. Try to find a green run that starts at
the top of a lift and ends at the base area, or a series of trails like so that are all green. Ride
up the lift, and start on the trail. Trail Difficulty
21. Try skiing without using the “pizza technique.”: As you go down more runs, you
should learn to ski without using the technique that keeps you moving slowly. Once you
become accustomed to skiing the green trails, try putting your skis parallel to each other for
parts of the slope. Parallel skiing will cause you to go faster. Instead of going back into pizza
turn across the mountain to control your speed. • Try your first intermediate trail: Before
selecting a trail, make sure you know how to turn and stop. These skills will be very
important. Select a trail that starts at the top of a lift and ends at the base area, or select a
path made up of blue and green trails. While going down the intermediate trail, you may
notice it is steeper and you will probably wipe out a little more. Don't worry about this. With
practice, these trails will become easier and easier. Techniques
22. FAQ Answers 1. You can always get your lift tickets when you get to the mountain you
want to go to. Also, ask your resort for any discounts that may be available. 2. You can get
information about ski schools at your resort or you can always ask at the ski rental place or
at the mountain where you buy your lift tickets. 3. Some mountains offer night skiing. You
just need to check with the mountain on their closing times. 4. Every mountain has places
for skiers to park. Usually you can park at the bottom and have a shuttle pick you up and
take you to the top of the mountain. 5. There are a few different transportations to get to
the mountain. For example, the shuttle, Gondola, and mountain parking. 6. Some ski resorts
offer tubing or sledding, it just depends on where you go. You can always ask your resort if
they offer it or a place nearby that does, if the resort does not. 7. Anywhere you go to ski;
there will be rental places to rent skis or snowboard, which ever you prefer. You might want
to call around or research and see who has the lowest prices. 1. Where can I get lift tickets?
2. Where is the best ski school? 3. Do you offer night skiing 4. Where do I park when going to
ski? 5. Is there different transportations? 6. Do any ski resorts offer tubing or sledding? 7.
Where can you rent skis? Troubleshooting Guide
23. Preparation 10 Put on Your Skis 16 Ski Gear 7 Ski Movement 19 Ski Safety Tips 8 Ski
Wear 11 Starting to Ski 18 Table Contents 3 Techniques 21 Trial Difficulties 20 • Basic Skills
17 • Buddy System 13 • Getting Started 4 • Keep Warm 12 • Learning How to Ski 14 •
Planning to go Ski 5 • Picking a Resort 6 • Preparing to Ski 15 • Preparing Your Body 9 Index

Changes in Skiing
 Shape of the ski
 Straight/Conventional vs. shaped/parabolic
 Length
 Bindings
 Who cares? What will it change?
 Biomechanics carving, easier turns
 Level and ability
 Speed
 Higher risk of injury possible

Carving

 The new shape of the ski lets the skier steer or

make turns along the ski edges
  Eliminates lateral skid or chatter in turns (if
your good enough!)
 Shaped skis are marketed to be easier for a
beginner and less work for an advanced skier
 Link
 The more strongly waisted the ski and the greater
the on-edge angle, the more strongly the ski must
flex to maintain contact with the slope along the
total length of the edge.

link

Beginner’s Guide to Skiing

It’s fun and easy to learn how to ski. In this Beginner’s Guide to Skiing video series, get simple
tips from professional ski instructor Eric Lipton as he explains what to expect before you, your
children, or friends ski for the first time. Be sure to watch all the videos. Share them on your
social channels and tag people you know who want to learn to ski!

Part 1: Ski Gear, Using Your Bindings,

and Carry Your Skis
There are several things beginner skiers can learn before they even set foot on snow. In the
first section of our beginner’s guide to skiing, we will cover:

 How to properly put on your ski boots.

 The basic parts of your skis.
 How to get in and out of your skis.
 How to carry your skis.

To get skiing, you will need the basic gear: skis, boots, and poles. Eric Lipton suggests that
you politely decline if a family member or friends offers to lend you some because resorts
today are equipped with the best rental equipment. They will also make sure you get the right
size and style of gear to ensure the best possible learning experience.

The boots are the first thing you’ll try on, they are also the most important piece of equipment.
To properly fit your ski boots, start with one pair of thin socks pulled up over your calves. Slide
your feet into the boot and press your heel towards the back of the boot. Start by tightening the
buckles on the upper cuff to ensure your heels are all the way back and all the way down. The
boot should feel snug (but not painful) around your foot and lower leg. If you can slide your foot
back and forth inside the boot, chances are the boot is too big. If your toes are squished or
curled, you might need a bigger size. Try on a few different sizes to make sure you have the
best possible fit.
Next up, let’s talk about your skis. The front of the ski is called the tip and the back of the ski is
called the tail. Somewhere between the tip and the tail you’ll find the ski binding; bindings are
what connects your boot to the ski.When your boot is not pressed into the binding, you’ll notice
the ski brake preventing your skis from sliding. Unlike boots, there is no right or left ski, they
are interchangeable.

Part 2: First Movements on Snow, Side

Stepping, and How to Get Up After a Fall
Now that you understand your gear, it’s time to get moving. In this section, we will cover:

 Gliding on snow.
 Duck walking and side stepping.
 Getting up from the ground.

Before you head to the top of a hill, start with pushing your way around on the flats. Start with
your shins pressed against the front of your boots to stay forward and to stay balanced. This
will also get you used to the sensation of gliding around on snow.

But what do you do when you can’t glide? That is where duck walking and side-stepping come
into play.

Side-stepping is when you move with your skis perpendicular to the slope (meaning your skis
pointed across the hill instead of down the hill) and navigate up the hill. When you are in
position, lean your knees uphill and take small steps sideways. This can be useful when you
have to get up a small incline or if you drop a pole uphill and have to retrieve it.

The other way to move uphill is the herringbone or duck walk. For this move, make a V-shape
with the tails of your skis closer together than the tips. Flex your ankles forward and sink your
knees inward, this will create a wedge so you don’t slide backwards. From there, you can walk
around almost anywhere. Just make sure the tails of your skis don’t cross.

The next thing you’ll want to learn is how to get up when you fall. There are a few different
ways to get up easily.

The first way is to place your skis parallel and across the slope. Make sure they are downhill
(so your head is closer to the top of the hill and your feet are closer to the bottom of the hill.
From there, use your hands to slowing push your way up.

Another way is to roll onto your stomach and bend your knees so your skis are in the air. Now,
put your feet sideways so that the insides of your feet are touching the snow. From there,
navigate into a duck walking position and push yourself up like you would if you are doing a
pushup.

And for a last resort, take off one of your skis to make standing up even easier.
Part 3: How to Turn, How to Stop, and
How to Get on a Chairlift
In the third part of our series, we’re going to talk about the basic movements on snow.

Turning and stopping are one in the same when skiing. In order to stop, you will first need to
learn how to turn.

To turn your skis, start in a slight wedge position. To make a turn to the right, your left leg will
actually do most of the work. Turn your left leg more and put more weight on your left work. It’s
the opposite for a left turn. As always, keep your shins on pressed against the front of your
boots.

To stop, do an exaggerated turn until you are completely perpendicular.

Getting on a chairlift is easy. Ski up to the line that usually says “Wait Here.” Once the chair in
front of you passes, follow that chair to the line that says “Load Here.” Wait for the chair to
come around, sit down, scoot all the way back, put the safety bar down and enjoy the ride!

When you’re nearing the top, raise the safety bar, keep your tips up, and stand up when the
chair reaches the unloading area.

Part 4: 3 Key Moves for Your First Day

These three key movements will help you find success skiing:

 Basic athletic stance

 Sidestepping and traversing
 Bull fighter turn

Your basic athletic stance is simple – your feet are shoulder width apart, elbows are forward,
and eyes are up. To get into this stance, hop. How you land is your perfect skiing position.

To sidestep, start with your skis across the hill. Engage the skis by tipping your knees uphill,
and then you can take small steps sideways (uphill).

If you need to traverse, first look uphill to make sure no one is coming down. Traversing is just
like sidestepping, but without the steps. Point your skis across the hill, tip your skis uphill
slightly, then pole across the hill.

Sometimes when standing on a slope, you’ll need to turn yourself around. To do the bull
fighter turn take your poles, and place your palms on the top of the poles. Stick the poles into
the snow as far as you can reach downhill. Now, straighten your arms completely so they are
locked up. Then, just walk your skis around until they are pointed the other way. Be sure to
practice in both directions.
Part 5: Making Your First Turns
Start to practice your first turns in a flat area. Start in your basic athletic stance and remember
to press your skins into the front of your boots. With your poles, give yourself a few pushes
and glide forward. Next, step your skis in a half circle as if your making a U-turn. Keep
stepping until you come to a stop. Try this in both directions, right and left, and increase your
speed as much as you are comfortable. Remember, if you want to go to the left, step your left
ski first. Your skis should never cross, and many small steps are better than fewer big steps.

This will help you learn two very important skills. Shifting your weight to the outside or downhill
ski. And turning your skis in both directions.

What to Wear
A good day on snow starts with a good set of skivvies, so here is what to wear on the
mountain. Wicking base-layers keep you warm and comfortable by moving sweat away from
your skin. Avoid cotton layers at all costs, they do the opposite. Also, be sure to wear one pair
of ski or snowboard specific socks, and only one pair. They are designed to keep you warm.

Make sure your snowpants are waterproof, breathable, and appropriate for the climate that you
are visiting. And underneath you only want to have on base-layers.

Mid-layers depend on the weather and your personal preference. Layering is great as the
day’s weather changes, so can your outfit. A little cold put one on, a little warm take one off.

For jackets, you’ll want to make sure they’re waterproof and possibility insulated depending on
the climate that you are in. If it’s cold, you’ll want a neck gaiter to keep your neck and face
warm.

You should wear a properly fitted helmet designed for skiing or snowboarding. A bike helmet
won’t do. You’ll also want ski googles to protect your eyes from the sun (snow is very
reflective), keep the elements out, and help you see where you are going.

The choice between gloves and mittens is a personal preference. In general, gloves allow for
more dexterity while mittens are warmer.

And now you’re ready to go outside!

How to Get Off a Chairlift

Here are some helpful tips to help you get off the chairlift successfully. Start off by getting
comfortable standing up and practicing unloading, you can use a bench or chair. Focus on
standing up using your legs like you are getting up from the dinner table. Keep your hands
forward with your poles in one hand and press your shins firmly into the front of the boot and
glide away.
Now it’s time to ride the chairlift. When you’re riding up, make a plan with the other people on
the chair and plan to unload in different directions.

Remember to keep your ski tips up and focus on standing up with the muscles in your legs like
you are getting up from the dinner table. Keep your hands forward with your poles in one hand,
press your shins into the front of the boots, and glide away.

Wait until you are away from the chair and other people before you skid to a stop. And if you
fall while unloading, the lift operators will slow and stop the chair so you can safely get out of
the way. Follow these tips and you’ll be getting of the chairlift like a pro.